I could be up for this, but it'll depend on how my training is coming along in 4 months' time. If I've got a decent training base behind me and am able to churn out sub-9-minute miles comfortably by the end of this year, it'll definitely be a realistic aspiration :o)

If someone made me an offer of 3.58 for FLM2007, or ANY marathon, I'd accept it at the moment, Ripped Dap!

I'm not a natural runner, and consistent training has always been something I've struggled with, but I know that if I'm going to do a decent marathon time I have to focus on running and cut down on cross-training.

I don't plan to do any speedwork apart from the occasional tempo run until the turn of the year, because I need to build a decent mileage base first. I know that I'm capable of turning my legs over much faster than I habitually do, though.

I won't breeze this, but I think I may be able to squeeze it out of myself before middle age sets in ;o)

I agree with Ripped Dap. These forums can be very helpful and quite sociable too. I have, since posting on RW forums, met up with a few others and in fact about a dozen of us all met up for the Rotterdam marathon in April.

My best time is 4:06:21 so hoping for better things next April. Just posted my entry today.

My 10k and half-marathon times predict that I should be able to run a marathon a lot faster than I actually have, but I've never really put in the mileage needed to reach my potential over marathon distance.

I'm confident that, with consistent training, I could knock a minute per mile off my PB. Whether I could manage two minutes per mile remains to be seen.

I'll be aiming to get my 10k PB under 48 minutes and my half-marathon PB close to 1.50 along the way. And there's the small matter of a 15-hour 100k to prepare for ...

If I ws clever I'd paste you a link to the Oxfam Trailwalker thread over on events, RD ;o)

It's a 100k from Petersfield to Brighton for teams of four. I've done it with Forum teams for three years, this year as an 11th-hour substitute, and have never finished in under 25 hours (the priority is finishing with an intact team rather than getting an individual time). However, big chunks of the route look extremely runnable and I think I've got three other, er, volunteers plus a support crew to have a pop at 15 hours next July.

This year, that time would have made us 10th overall and fastest mixed team, which probably means it's going to be a lot harder than I think it is. Aiming for a sub-4 spring marathon fits very nicely into my training plan, and after the marathon I'll avoid racing anything longer than 10k (unless I get mugged by a Keswick half entry form) and concentrate on distance again.

Thanks to all for the comments. I think I'll stick on this thread unless I can convince myself that sub 3:45 is possible, which I really don't think it is (at least right now). Maybe the 10 miler I just signed up to in 8 weeks time will give me a bit more of an idea as to how i'm doing with longer distances.

So here's a strange one. Just checked the post this morning and my FLM entry envelope was delivered back to me. The royal mail sorter must have decided to scan the return address on the back of the envelope! I'm surprised the postman didn't ask me to pay for the unstamped mail!!

So, back it goes to the post box hoping that the machine will read the address in dark bold print this time around.

I haven't bequeathed this year. I've had five consecutive ballot rejections (bequeathed some years, depending on whether or not I wanted the rejection gizmo on offer) and should get a place :o) Difficult to get my head round that lack of uncertainty. I keep finding myself thinking, if I don't get into London it doesn't matter because I'd quite like to do Windermere instead anyway.

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